OVER HERE - THE HOPE OF AUDACITY
In American politics the candidates from both sides will attack "Washington, D.C." as a place that needs change. It is a time honored tradition, never mind that both candidates are office holders in Washington, D.C. and seek higher office located there. The population can always be agitated against the capital, where Congress lies (hee hee), federal laws are passed and of course federal taxes originate. But we Yanks should ask ourselves, is it the government that needs change, or do we need to change ourselves? Change our spending habits, change our eating habits, change our reliance on foreign fuel, change the way we accept the dominance of pop cultural values, change our acceptance of certain corporate malfeasance, change our acceptance of poltical soundbites as a substitute for political thought and debate, and change an emphasis on profit over value. Probably not the best political advice for a candidate - tell the people we need to change things we do, not just the party in office.
But merely mouthing the words is not enough. Candidates will schedule the odd event where thye will "take a stand" to show they can be tough on some element of their own base. Obama did that on Father's Day when he criticised those black fathers who have not supported their children. Ok, true enough, it has been a longstanding problem in the black community. But should we elect Bill Cosby, since he has been saying this for years? To me this was more a a scripted event than any real attempt to invoke change. What will he really do?
Is McCain any better? Well he often antagonizes the rightwing of his party, earning their distain and the support of more mainstream folks. But what will he really do? His Supreme Court nominees wil hardly be the same as Obama's. And McCain's view of Iraq is quite different, no matter what cynics might say. I suppose the analysis we have to use is not what they will say, but what they will do. We have some time to think about it. But not a lot of time.
Mahons
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Reader Comments (17)
Yes. McCain is better.
they both suck, but Obama is increadibly stupid on economics, oil, and the war. As far as I'm concerned what else is there
Mahons,
I feel your frustration here. Yes, why not elect Bill Cosby? After all, "you" elected Reagan. The election of a POTUS is rather a reality show (but with less humour).
Your Washington comments are well made. As you know, we call the phenomenon "Whitehall" here. (Hmm, Whitehall, White House; is there a subliminal message I'm missing?) Power really is concentrated in the hands of our civil servants, who will outlast every government as surely as the cockroach will outlast the human race.
I think I agree with Patty that McCain is better. He seems like a decent sort of bloke to me, a little like Gerald Ford—but less fun.
I see that Gore has endorsed Obama...strangely no post about it on ATW?
I sense a great disturbance in the force as if a million right wing bloggers cried out in terror and deleted their posts by mistake.
Mahons -
But we Yanks should ask ourselves, is it the government that needs change, or do we need to change ourselves? ... Probably not the best political advice for a candidate - tell the people we need to change things we do, not just the party in office.
Yes, you Yanks do need to change, as we Limeys need to also. We all need to grow up, be responsible for ourselves stop relying on government to make us feel better and realise that it's time for the private sphere to again crowd out the public. How very conservative of you, Mahons. As the great P.J. O'Rourke puts it:
But the problem isn't politicians -- it's politics. Politics won't allow for the truth. And we can't blame the politicians for that. Imagine what even a little truth would sound like on today's campaign trail:
"No, I can't fix public education. The problem isn't the teachers unions or a lack of funding for salaries, vouchers or more computer equipment The problem is your kids!"
Frank - Odd that Gore waited so long if he believes in Obama that much.
Pete - How very good of you to quote an IrishAmerican.
I think I'll be sitting this one out - a first for me. I am tired of being told I need to just swallow it and vote for McCain because Obama's the boogyman. I despise McCain, I think he's another shallow politician with nothing more than power on his mind. I don't think he gives one rat's ass about the things I believe will make this country better a place for it's citizens and a more prosperous nation.
I don't want Bush III in the white house and I firmly believe that McCain will actually be much worse than Bush. I can't stomach the man and won't vote for him.
Methinks Daphne is inching her way out as an Obamababe !
Nah, he's too liberal for me. His latest tax plan put the cabosh on any warm feelings I might have had.
Daphne
You gotta go for someone then.. Ron Paul if he runs as an independent ?
Maybe I'll write in Kinky Friedman.
I'd heard the name Daphne but didn't know anything about him. Anyway, surely there are enough Kinky free Men roaming the streets as it is :)
As long as you're free Colm, the world will be alright in my book.
You get what you pay for.
Mahons. That's just another way of describing me as priceless :)
"You get what you pay for"
Think about that Mahons - that's exactly right in presidential elections. (I'm starting to sound bitter, huh? I'll work on my attitude.)
Colm, sounds like you're out of reach for the average whitebread atw womenfolk.
Daphne - Nah, you are just expressing some realism.